Palmerston Welcomes Motor Trade Delegates

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7018, 18 September 1929, Page 2

Palmerston Welcomes Motor Trade Delegates

N.Z. CONFERENCE OPENS

One hundred and twenty delegates front all parts of New Zealand, including representatives from the extreme parts of the North and South Islands, attended the opening function • in connection with the twelfth annual general meeting and convention of the New Zealand Motor Trades Association, -which is being held in Palmerston North in conjunction with the conference of the New Zealand Wholesale Motor and Cycle Traders’ Association Limited. The business of the combined conference will extend over a period of three days. Prior to the first of the meetings, a civic welcome was extended to representatives yesterday morning by the Mayor, Hr. 4 J. Graham, in the Municipal hall.

An Important Organisation. Mr. D. T. Baufthop (Wellington), president of the Wholesalers' Association, in introducing the Mayor of Palmerston North, said that it was with the greatest of pleasure that he asked Mr. Graham to open the conference being held in Pilmerstoh North. It was a unique gathering as it was a convention from which the public received benefit' in addition to the trade m New Zealand. This was the second meeting/to be held in the town and .in regard to the formation of the as soeiation he pointed out that the gani'Sation had originated in Palmers£n North and it was now held ajternitdv in each inland. There w m ,J matters which, although they could not be dealt with at ordinary meetings, would be brought up at the conference and there were‘ i ® The terests being, closely watched. The legislation. now being introduced at partiaraent in regard to the Transpor Bill was being watched anxie y but it was confidently oxpocted tha„ advantages t had met the l£e of the trhde in New Zealand and the Transport Advisoy Commit+ee had given fair representation. The Transport Bill would prove of great assistance and this all went to ohow that the present Government, like that of'the past one/was prepared to give every distance to the organisation, i/had been asked where the motorhlafue for the barrier that had grown up between the two pittig. tjw sg ak- £ maintained, but speaking there was no Teason for any ill «ei 2g! The fact that a large percentage of the pttblie owned oars on y that the interests of both were *- “” ,a HZJg&m .t Wi* *»<*„*, took Mm ‘ : * *!> XfSa m **. ‘ f - requested Mr. Woods, . LSiSr rf"he New Zealand Motor Sat Sfatien, to present he M?y6r*itb -a similar badge from the

to the original band of founders at Palmerston North and to those in business in the town to-day who were carrying on splendid work under the same code of ethics.

The growth of Palmerston North was phenomenal and the spirit of citizenship prevailing was exemplified in the actions of such prominent men as ihe ’ Chief Magistrate, so that it was a pleasing feature to remember the town as the origin of the movement.

. d p e i are a the JJfth B ajSal conference open for regnW business.

V A Welcome A«ttr®d. T , lU> yLthe Mayor of Palmerston vSiA 2r A. j. Graham, thanked the the honour conferred - W* and on behalf of the mumSSf'oMM * i, in attendance. tne *»• not highly satisfactory 7 n ?7ueh am important occasion but L I»M «>• u***"" 1 "* ”“'s'*, ?*£*«.V~ I«ee of Palmerston North as it was ™Ld that tha Motor Trades Associof tha strongestMjJ--A—. in the Dominion, haung a 2SSU affect on the prosperity of pointed out the importan!e of' SL traffie to New Zealand .* to Palmerston North. S&SS** town had boon in was nothing but dense bwrtubatwith the advent of the motor pltoerSton North had become not only Sa*£rt important inland town in New Zealand, Inst also in Australasia. Insofa local authorities were concerned Cw introduced, as., far as pos- ® lJSalntion that would not prove * toaScTh inotorilts to ~f» it W*fi axpeeted that visitors would be oJrvant of all by-law regulatioir what wM seen from the outsidrjat of view, it could be realised rtlt those responsible for the guidance If tha association were attending minutely every detail and it was undoubtedl/tbi* attention that made . th< L o *; ganisatSo* of eueh importance in New l, «>*«*?.• g'as «be wish that the atay of the dele nates in PalmemtOn North would be most enjoyable and also that the work of %» eSerenee would go on smoothly to the' benefit of the trade genertha BirthplaceAs president of the Motor Trades AsJw&lfe c. Woods (Timaruj hwtalr thanked the Mayor for his splendid welcome. Fourteen years ago the motor trade in New Zealand had been in a state of chaos and it was the conditions prevailing at this time tha had prompted the men of Palmerston North 'and its surrounding districts to meet together, with the late Mr. John Beit as ebalraan, for the purpose of forming the association upon sterlfeg and sound principles. That had been the birth of the organisation and the principles laid down had been maintained by all members. It was a pleasure and a privilege to pay homage

AH matters affecting the association had been discussed openly and the public had come to realise that everything was conducted in a straightforward mannor, said Mr. Wood, who concluded by paying a tribute to the work of the secretary, Mr. P. Cousins (Wellington) as being instrumental in assisting the association to spring into such prominence. Messrs V. G. Clift and J. Selwyn of the Palmerston North committee, who had also been indefatigable in making full arrangements for the holding of the convention. On behalf of the Manawatu branch, Mr. Pierard briefly extended a welcome to the delegates and outlined the arrangements made for the entertainment of tho ladies.

The calling of the roll revealed that only seven were present who had attended the second annual conference — the first to be held in Palmerston North. It was also revealed that there were 69 motor traders and 13 wholesalers attending, in addition to 41 ladies. It was expected that more delegates will be arriving as the conference proceeds.

MOTOR TRADE ASSOCIATION.

Annual Meeting.

Mr. C. Woods presided over the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Motor Trade Association held following the civic welcome. There was a large attendance and several apologies for unavoidable absence were received.

The Year’s Activity.

twelfth annual report for tho year ended June 30 and submitted by the president and secretary, Mr. C. W. Wood and J. F. Cousins respectively, was presented. to the meeting as follows: —

♦‘The eleventh annual meeting and conference, was held at Nelson on IS, 19 and 20 September, in conjunction with N.Z. Wholesale Motor and Cycle Traders’ Assocation Limited. 1 Thoro was an attendance of 56 members of the M.T.A., 28 wholesalers and 32 ladies. The business transacted was of an important and interesting nature, and the interest of members was well sustained. The splendid hospitality of the Nelson members, who acted as, hosts, made the social features most enjoyable, and the whole conference was a most successful one: The year under review has been a busy and eventful one, and the progress recorded in our last report has been well maintained. We again have pleasure in reporting that the financial position of the association is thoroughly sound, and the balance sheet to be submitted herewith is in many ways the most satisfactory in the history of the association. The total cash received during the year was £6,957 9s 7cl, a record amount for the association. The net income was, however, £159 4s 8d less than last year, and the expenditure £434 16s 2d more, and in this respect the position ris not so favourable as last year. The principal cause of the increased expenditure was the cost of holding more than the usual number of council and committee meetings, on account of the efforts made to stabilise the tyre business. For this reason the balanco of accrued income has been decreased from £1,291 11s Od to £9OB 6s 4d. In spite of this extra expenditure there has been no shortago of funds, and the credit balance at our bankers has been maintained at the high level recorded last year. This happy position is due to the smaller amount of subscriptions outstanding, and the comparatively small amount required to be written-off to bad debts account. Your conncil has gone very carefully into the question of finance for the coming year, and recommends that a considerable saving may bo made in travelling expenses if the full council is called together only when required for important business, and that a small executive be set up to deal with routine matters such as 'election of members, passing of accounts, etc. The rules give the council power to delegate any of the powers Tested in. it to a committee, excepting the election or removal of members. A special meeting of members has been called for September 18 to amend the rules so that power to elect members may be delegated to an executive set up by council. If this proposal is given effect to we aro of opinion that expenditure will •be curtailed sufficiently to balance income during the present financial year. The numbea- of members on the register has increased considerably during the year, and still continues to grow, keeping pace with the continued growth of the motor trade. This will be seen from the following table, showing the number of members under the various classifications over the last four years:-/

The year has been an eventful one in the New Zealand tyre trade, and a very large amount of time and money has been spent by the association in an endeavour to put this business on a better footing. The matter is fully treated in a special report to bo presented at this meeting. Petrol resellers have worked together during the year more harmoniously than for some time past, but as will be seen from the order paper, there are still many difficulties to solve before this business can be regardod as satisfactory. The resolution carried at the last annual meeting of deduct 2J per cent, from subscriptions to this fund, has been given effect to, and about £IOO has been secured to the fund by this source. This matter also .is dealt with in a separate report. During the year there have been five meetings of council, two meetings of tho big tyrecommittee, one of which lasted two days, and six meetings of special tyre committees. All of these meetings have been splendidly attended, the average number present being eighteen from all parts of the Dominion. The average cost of a meeting of council, for travelling expenses alone, is £IOO. The work of council during the year has been more exacting and difficult than usual, mainly owing to the tyro section of the work. Members cheerfully give their time and oxperiencc for the general good of tho trade, and it is somewhat disappointing that after so much effort better results have not been obtained. Thirty-two local associations are now in operation, an increase of four on tho previous year. Tho new districts to establish local associations are Rotorua, "Whakatane, Opotiki and Ashburton. Many of the local associations are strong bodies, whilst others are not yet well established. It is hoped that with the financial assistance referred to earlier in this report, local associations will be strengthened and become more efficient. The success of the wholo motor trade organisation is dependent on the success of tho local associations, and your council hopes that during the coming year there, will be a decisive step forward by all local associations. In conclusion, members of council desire to express their appreciation of the support received from members, and to assure them *hat members of council, who have the best opportunity of knowing tho value of the organisation, are unanimous in tlioir opinion that the M.T.A. is of inestimable value to the motor trade, and deserves the enthusiastic support of every member.’’.

“Mr. Mathieson, who has acted in the position of field representative since January, 1927, has continued to do good work, and lias carried out his duties to the satisfaction of council. He has been of considerable assistance to the smaller and more scattered local associations, who have occupied a good deal of his time during the year. With a membership of 1,400 throughout the Dominion, it is impossible for one man to get round as often as many local associations would like, and if it could be financed, two men could bo kept busy at this work. The increased work caused by the growing membership of the principal local assocation has raised a problem which your council has had to face during tho present year. The Auckland association, which has a large membership spread over a wide territory, realised that they could not secure the Dominion organiser for sufficient time to do the work they required, and appointed a field man of their own, and applied to council for a grant for this purpose, in lieu of the services of the Dominion organiser. A grant of £52 was reluctantly made by council, and as was expected, applications from other local associations for similar treatment were soon made. Decision on the matter was deferred until the annual accounts were completed, when it was revealed that it would not be possible to provide tho money for this purpose from the general fund. Representatives of the local assocations concerned pressed for the payment of a subsidy instead of the services of an organiser for a small period each year, and as it was impossible to maintain an organiser and provide adequate subsidies, it was decided to abolish the office of field representative, and devote the monies thereby to the payment of a subsidy to local associations on a membership basis. This new plan, which will operate from October 1, 1929, is expected to provide a grant of 15s per member to local associations, in addition to the usual local subscriptions. With this financial assistance it should be possible to pay local secretaries salaries commensurate with the duties they will be called upon to perform in the absence of a Dominion field organiser. Technical training is a branch of work that is extending, several new classes having been started during the year. This is dealt with in a separate report from the technical training committee. There has been no motor legislation during the year up to the timo of writing this report, but a. transport bill is expected during the present session of Parliament, representation has been made to the Government to amend the Act as it refers to dealers' platos, which are practically valueless under the interpretation put on the Act by tho courts. It is hoped to have this troublosome question satisfactorily settled by' this means. Sinee our last annual meeting there has been a change of government, the Liberal party now being in power. Sir Joseph Ward, the leader of the party, made transport an important plank of the Government platform when wooing the electors, and promisod changes in several matters. So far the only promise redeemed is the sotting up of a Transport Advisory Council, which has been duly constituted' and has held two meetings. The Government policy regarding motor transport has not yet been announced, and until the intentions of the Government are known, tho chance of any improvements is an unknown quantity. An increase of primage duty from one per cent, to two per cent, to help make up a deficit in the public accounts means the payment of an extra £60,0t)0 or thereabouts by tho motor trade during the present year, which is disappointing when some remission of the present heavy duties was hoped for. In regard to stolen and missing cars, the work of the M.T.A. continues to grow, and very satisfactory results have been obtained. Forty-six cars or trucks have been reported to the association during the year has stolen or missing under H.P. agreements, and have in the majority of cases been recovered and rostored to their owners. A new award for motor mechanics came into operation on 17 December, 1928, and will remain on sorce until 17 December, 1930. The case was handled by the association in conciliation council, and in the arbitration court. At the first sitting of the conciliation council no agreement was arrived at, and on being reported to the court, a further sitting was ordered, at which agreement was reached in a majority of the clauses. Tho clauses in which agreement was not reached were argued before the arbitration court, which gave its judgment in due course. The present award is much the same as the previous one, although your representatives had to fight to retain this, more especially some of the clauses concerning unskilled and boy labour. For the first time in a motor mechanics' award the principle of piece-work has been agreed to, although in a somewhat restricted way. The present award permits companies such as General Motors Limited, to use the piece-work system ip assembling cars, etc. If the present experiment is successful, it may bS possible to extend its scope. Sunshine day is regularly obsorvod by motor traders in a number of New Zealand towns as the day on which .they give themselves to the entertaining of the inmates of orphanagos, etc., by an outing. The membors in those districts which have taken up this work are enthusiastic, and the movement promises to grow to considerable dimensions. In order to try and bring more districts into this splendid work, the question has been put on the order paper for discussion at this conference.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr. Woods said that the year just passing had been ..eventful in regard to tho business and affairs of the motor trade. Taking the council’s report into consideration, notwithstanding tho difficulties beyond control which had to bo contended with, it was a matter for congratulations that so much had been accomplished. “Your council has had a busy time, and the affairs of the trade have been thoroughly attended to, often at great sacrifice to individual councillors, in respect to loss of time, to their business, and in expenses which do occur beyond their actual travelling expenses,*’ continued the chairman. “The, tyre 'question has occupied a great amount of time and worry and although we have not accomplished 100 per cent, of satisfaction, many districts have benefited and are working in perfect harmony. We regret that two large districts yet have not come into line but we have not yet given up hope. In quite a number of districts the petrol question is on a sound footing, but according to the list of remits to come before us the oil companies are still operating in a pin pricking and annoying manner. Our membership has grown considerably, and so far all sections of the trade are operating in amity with the present associatibn while our finances are sound. Changing conditions and exigencies have brought about requests from certain associations for financial assistance from the parent association, and the council in their wisdom have decided to reduce current expenses in various ways, and make a small per capita grant to local associations. The permanent issues in connection lyith the association are very satisfactory, and again I can speak in tho highest terms of our general secretary and his staff. All councillors have fulfilled their obligations in the highest degree, and with the perfect organisation we have, it must be admitted that our association notwithstanding our difficulties. is responsible for tho 100 per cent, better conditions in our trade, than would be were we not organised. It has teen a pleasure and a great help to have tho wholesalers associated with us, and "while one or two issues arc not yet finalised, wc must give them credit for assistance and support, and I can assure you that they are actuated only in a spirit of co-operation, in the general interests of themselves and ourselves and tho public.’’ Tho report and balance sheet wero then adopted, on the seconding of Mr. B. E. Stanton (New Plymouth).

Officers Elected,

Tho election of officers for the ensuing year resulted. — President, Mr. V. G. Clift, Palmerston North; secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. F. Cousins, Wellington; auditor, Mr. R. A. Fuller, Palmerston North; council, Messrs F. Reynolds, Whangarei; F. B. Cadman, Auckland; F. J. Farrell, Hamilton; C. S. Wallace, Thames Valley; M. Jones, Te Kultij E. J. M. Ferguson, North j l . y. Lysons, South Taranaki; H. Holmes, Gisborne; H. Fox, Wairoa; R. Bell, Napier; V. G. Clift, Manawatu; F. W. Mereweather, Wanganui; G. Hughan, Wairarapa; J. C. Milnes, Hoxowhenua; Col. H. E. Avery, Wellington; G. W. Trench, Christchurch; C. W. Wood, Timaru; F. Smallbone, Ashburton; H. J- Jenkins, Oamaru; J. N. Armour, Southland. Representatives of the petrol section were appointed as follows: — Mr. A. Pollard, Auckland, for the North Island and Mr. J. Watson, Dunedin, for tho South Island. In tho tyro soctions, Mr. G. W. Spragg, of Auckland, and Mr. A. Wimpcnny, of Dunedin, were appointed. The meeting was continued following the luncheon adjournment when, further business was taken in committee. An adjournment was then made and the meeting will resume at 9 a.m. today.

1929 192S 1927 1926 Garage proprietors 873 757 574 505 Accessory dealers . 4 4 2 1 Electric and battery section 26 22 9 1 Petrol section 172 137 69 — Tyre section 194 15S 53 10 Motor Cycle section 111 116 114 Wholesalers . 18 13 14 14 1,398 1,202 837 645